Horizontal gyrofinishing machine and method



w. F. DlEHL ET AL v 2,803,093

. HORIZONTAL GYROFINISHING MACHINE AND METHOD Fil ed Sept. 29, 1953 I 5 Sheeizs-Sheet l w. F. DIEHL T L HORIZONTAL GYROFINISHING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 29. 1953' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' Ira/l ATTORNEY 'INVENTORS 55 2 j yilf dz 4' 2,803,093 HORIZONTAL GYROFINIISHINC MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 29, 195:

Aug. 20, 1957 w. F. DlEHL ET AL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 4 flaw Z9214; av. fik/zamflfzrzz/ I I n TOR NFV Au 20, 1957 w. F. DIEHL E L 2,803,093.

E-X(')R.'[ZONTAL GYROFINISHING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 29, 195: 5 shefisrsheet 4 INVENTORS ATTORNEY Aug. 20, 1957 w. F. DIEHL ETAI- 2,393,093

HORIZONTAL GYROFINISHING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 29. 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 5 WI h "I! w'lm [I W w"! 1, M:

i I; Q 4 I! ,y i I; l 1 l v I 77 I I ATTOR NEY United HORIZONTAL GYROFINESHXNG MACHINE AND METHGD Application September 29, 1953, Serial No. 383,074

17 Claims. (Cl. 51-7) This invention relates to improvements in abrading and polishing and more particularly to an improved process and apparatus for surface finishing or polishing articles of irregular surface contour.

In metal finishing operations it is generally desirable, and in many instances essential, to remove inherent or acquired surface defects and to obtain a smooth surface finish. Particularly is this true when articles are being processed prior to electroplating or other final surf-ace treatment. In finishing sheet metal or articles of regular surface contour, the problem is relatively simple. However, in finishing small die castings or other articles having an irregular surface contour such as automobile door handles, various accessory knobs, and metallic trim members which are produced on a large scale and are usually finish plated with chromium or the like, difiiculties have heretofore been encountered in obtaining a satisfactory finish.

It is a principal object of the present invention to avoid the aforementioned diificulties in abrasive finishing. A further object is the provision of an improved apparatus for continuous surface finishing operations. A still further object is the provision of an improved. apparatus for polishing articles having irregular surface contours. A still further object is the provision of an improved method of surface finishing articles having irregular surface'contours.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention appear more fully from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: I

Fig. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational view partially in section and with parts broken away of a finishing machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view partially in section and with parts broken away taken along the lines 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic end view partially in section with parts broken away taken along the lines 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section and with parts broken away illustrating details of the conveyor mechanism system shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view partially in section and with parts broken away illustrating the operation of the conveyor mechanism.

The apparatus of the present invention generally comprises a cylindrical drum adapted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and means associated therewith for moving articles to be surface finished along a predetermined path substantially parallel to the axis of drum rotation into and out of said drum through finely divided abrasive Z,83,ii93 Patented Aug. 20, 1%57 formed into an annular zone established by centrifugal force and having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, said means adapted to simultaneously impart rotary movement to each article while exposed to said abrasive material.

In a preferred apparatus embodying the invention the articles to be polished or surface finished, while themselves rotating, are moved longitudinally adjacent the inner wall of the cylindrical drum while it is rotated at a speed sufficient to form a rotating, annular zone of abrasive. An excellent surface finish is obtained on even the most irregularly shaped objects by the combination of movement within the zone of abrasive provided by the present apparatus wherein a substantial perpendicularity of axes of rotation is maintained. By rotating the articles to be polished as they move longitudinally through a rotating, cylindrical Zone of finely divided abrasive, the articles are exposed uniformly to the impinging abrasive particles. The abrasive material employed in a particular application will, of course, be dictated by the type, size and characteristics of the article to be finished. Generally, dry or moist mixtures utilizing abrasives such as aluminum oxide, calcium oxide, diatomaceous earth, kieselguhr, etc., are preferred although slurries of these or analogous abrasives also can be used.

Referring more particularly to the figures of the drawings illustrating one'embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a base 10 supporting a horizon tally disposed rotatable drum 12, and a Work carrier or conveyor mechanism indicated generally at 14 carrying a plurality of spindles 16 which are adapted to transport articles 18 through an abrasive zone 20 established within the drum 12 by centrifugal force.

The drum 12 formed of a cylinder 36 of steel or the like and provided with reinforcing ribs 38 is rotatably mounted to an upstanding frame member 34 on the base 10. A stationary protective housing 22 encloses the drum 12.

In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, the drum 12 is driven by motor 24 through a speed reducer 23 by belts 26 fitted around pulleys 27 and 28. The driving motor 24 is mounted on a pivoted support 25 as shown in Fig. 3 and its position is adjustable with respect to the drum 12, and base 10 by means of regulating screws and nuts 29. It will be understood, of course, that the drum 12 may instead be driven by other suitable drive means. Similarly, the sizes of the pulleys 27 and 28 may be varied.

The closed end of the drum 12 comprises a truncated conical shell which is secured by machine screws 37 to the end plate 42 of a journal shaft 44 operatively sup ported by roller bearings 46 and 48 disposed within a housing 50 on the upstanding frame member 34. The drum 12 thus is rotatably mounted at its closed end as a cantilever beam. Resilient guide rollers 21 are pro vided on the interior of housing 22 adjacent the unsup ported end of the drum to insure and maintain proper alignment during rotation.

The open end of the drum 12 is provided with a labyrinthine seal, 52 adapted to permit passage therethrough of the conveyor mechanism 14 and the articles tov be surface finished while minimizing mechanical dragout of abrasive material. The labyrinthine seal 52 comprises an end plate 54 and corresponding annular ring 56 within the drum. Associated with the seal 52 is an abrasive plow indicated generally at 53 adapted to deflect abrasive away from the drum openings. A trough 35 is provided adjacent the openings through the labyrinthine seal 52 to collect abrasive carried out of the drum. Abrasive material falling into the trough 35 slides down a chute 31 into a collection bin 32.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a horizontally disposed rotatable drum, having a length greater than its diameter, carrying a centrifugally formed annular abrasive zone, said abrasive zone having a substantially uniform depth throughout the length of the drum. Articles to be surface finished are carried through a predetermined longitudinal path, substantially parallel to the axes of drum rotation, into, through and out of the abrasive zone by a conveyor adapted to simultaneously rotate the articles around axes which are substantially parallel to each other, while perpendicular to the conveyor axes of rotation and to the axes of drum rotation.

Referring more particularly to the construction and operation of the apparatus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the conveyor 14 comprises a frame mounted as a cantilever beam extending longitudinally into the drum 12 and supported by an upstanding frame member 58 on the base 10. Adjacent the supported end of the frame 70 is a driving sprocket head assembly, indicated generally at 68. Secured to the opposite end of the frame 70 is a driven sprocket head assembly, designated generally as 72. The frame 70, as shown in Fig. 3 comprises two parallel plates 71 and 73 having longitudinally extending upper spars 75 and lower spars 77 welded thereto.

Mounted around the structure comprising the frame 70, the driving sprocket head assembly 68, and the driven sprocket head assembly 72, is a chain structure formed of a plurality of individual links 64 each carrying a spindle 16. The links 64, best shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8, are substantially A-shaped and are connected into a chain as shown in Fig. 7 by pins 730 which extend through openings 74 and 76 in the links. Proper alignment of the conveyor chain during operation is maintained by providing upper .and lower guide tracks indicated at 79 and 81 respectively.

Disposed in the crossbar 7 8 of each link 64 is a spindle 16 which supports an article to be polished and causes it to rotate while moving through the abrasive. The spindle structure, best shown in Fig. 4, comprises a cylindrical frame welded into the cross bar 7 8 and having a spindle shaft 82 extending longitudinally therethrough. The shaft 82 is operatively supported by ball bearings 84 and 86 and is provided with seals 38 and 9b to preclude entry of abrasive material. At the outwardly extending end of the shaft 82 is an interiorly threaded chuck 91 adapted to hold fixtures (not shown) carrying the articles to be finished. It will be understood, of course, that the shape of the fixture used will be dictated by the particular article being finished. At the opposite end of the spindle shaft 82 are earns 92 and 94 each keyed to the shaft 82 and held in place by a lock nut 96 engaging a threaded portion of the shaft.

In operation, the spindle shaft 82 and chuck 91 are rotated by the cams 92 and 94 respectively engaging cam actuating members and 93 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 having cam contact surfaces 97 and 9 as the links 64 are moved longitudinally through the rotating drum 12. The cam actuating members 95 and 98 comprise spaced parallel plates, having the desired cam actuating surfaces 97 and 99 and are secured to the upper spars 75 by means of a plurality of machine screws 33.

The driving sprocket head assembly 68, best shown in Fig. 5, comprises a sprocket shaft 10% driven by means of shaft 102 keyed thereto and which in turn is driven by a motor 60 and belt 57 through any suitable variable speed drive system (not shown). The motor 60 is pivotably mounted on the frame and is adjustable with respect to the frame by means of regulating screw 62. Upper and lower wheel plates 104 and 106 having cutout portions as shown in Fig. 5, adapted to engage the crossbars 78 of the chain links 64, are secured to the sprocket shaft by machine screws 1% and keys 114D and 111 seated in grooves 112 and 113. The sprocket shaft 100 is operatively supported by a lower bearing assembly 114 secured to the top 116 of the upstanding frame 58 and an upper bearing assembly 118 within a protective housing 120.

Bearing seals 122 and .124, in addition to a protective shield 126, effectively seal abrasive material out of the bearings. A plate 128 is positioned to serve as a stop for cam 94 to preclude its rotation and thus prevent rotation of the spindles 16 as they move around the sprocket Wheel.

The driven sprocket head '72 is of similar construction comprising a shaft 139 having sprocket plates 132 and 134 secured thereto by machine screws 136 and keys 138. The shaft is operatively supported by an upper bearing 140 and a lower bearing 142 provided with seals 144 and 14 6. A plate 148 is provided as a stop for cam 94 to preclude spindle rotation. Removable bearing plates 150 and 152 permit access to the upper and lower bearings while sealing out abrasive material.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the apparatus opcrates as follows: The work pieces 18 are secured to the spindles 16 in the loading zone which is outside the drum adjacent the trough 35 and are carried by the conveyor chm'n into the drum adjacent the cylindrical wall thereof and then out of the drum. The drum, actuated by the driving mechanism as described, rotates on its longitudinal axis with sufficient speed to cause the loose abrasive material therein to form by centrifugal force an annular abrasive zone adjacent the said cylindrical wall. Thus, the work pieces are moved by the conveyor chain in a direction parallel to the drums axis of rotation through the zone of moving abrasive material along one side of the drum, around, and again through the zone of abrasive material on the other side of the drum all as best shown in Fig. 2. As the conveyor chain is driven into and out of the rotating drum by the sprocket 68, cams 92 and 94 on each of the work piece holding spindles 16 are engaged by the stationary teeth-like cam actuating members 95 and 93 respectively, thereby causing rotation of the work pieces. Thus, progressively different surfaces of the work pieces are subjected to the action of the moving abrasive. When the work pieces are moved out of the container into the vicinity of the trough 35, in which position work piece rotation is precluded by the plate 128, they are unloaded and new work pieces are loaded onto the spindles.

It will be understood, of course, that in the practice of the invention a variety of speeds of rotation and conveyor travel can be employed depending on the size of the apparatus, abrasive used and articles being treated. However, as an illustration of typically practicable operating conditions, we have found that using a 38 diameter drum revolving at about 200 to 225 R. P. M., conveyor speeds of up to 16 feet per minute produce excellent results, 7l0 feet per minute being preferred.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been given for illustrative purposes and no undue limitations should be deduced therefrom. Accordingly, it is to be understood that variations and modification capable of being accomplished by the mere exercise of skill of the art are to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for surface finishing articles of irregular contour, said apparatus comprising a base having upstanding supports at each end thereof, a horizontally disposed rotatable cylindrical drum containing loose abrasive material mounted on the first of said supports, means for rotating said drum on its longitudinal axis to form said loose abrasive material into an annular abrasive zone around the interior circumference of said drum, said drum having a length greater than its diameter, and article conveyor means mounted on the second of said supports, said conveyor means extending into said abrasive drum and adapted to move articles within said drum adjacent its internal Wall through said annular abrasive zone, said conveyor means and drum having associated therewith labyrinthine seal means to minimize mechanical dragout of abrasive from said drum, said conveyor means comprising a continuous chain formed from A-shaped links, each of said links being provided with a spindle adapted to carry an article to be surface finished, said spindles being provided with cam driven means for rotating the articlesto be surface finished as the conveyor moves through said container, said chain having means associated therewith to preclude the individual rotation of said spindles outside of said drum.

2. Apparatus for surface finishing articles comprising a cylindrical container having a horizontally disposed longitudinal axis and containing loose abrasive material, means for rotating said container on its longitudinal axis to cause movement of said abrasive material, and a work carrier projecting into said container to transport the articles to be finished through said abrasive material in a substantially straight line angularly disposed to the movement of said abrasive material.

3. Apparatus for surface finishing articles comprising a cylindrical container having a horizontally disposed longitudinal axis and containing finely divided abrasive material, means for rotating said container on its longitudinal axis to cause movement of said abrasive material, a work carrier projecting into said container for transporting the articles to be finished through said abrasive material in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said container and means on said carrier for rotating the articles while being transported through said abrasive material.

4. Apparatus for surface finishing articles comprising a cylindrical container having a horizontally disposed longitudinal axis and containing loose abrasive material, means for rotating said container on its longitudinal axis to form said material into a moving annular abrasive zone and means for transporting the articles to be finished through said annular abrasive zone in a substantially straight line angularly disposed to the movement thereof.

5. Apparatus for surface finishing articles comprising a cylindrical container having a horizontally disposed longitudinal axis and containing loose abrasive material, means for rotating said container on its longitudinal axis to form said material into a moving annular abrasive zone and a carrier projecting into said container to transport the articles to be finished through the annular abrasive zone in a substantially straight line angularly disposed to the movement thereof and means on said carrier for ro tating the articles while in said abrasive zone.

6. Apparatus for surface finishing articles comprising a cylindrical drum having a horizontally disposed longitudinal axis and containing finely divided abrasive material, said drum having a length greater than its diameter, means for rotating said drum on its longitudinal axis with speed sufiicient to form said material into a moving annular abrasive zone around the inner circumference of said drum and means for transporting the articles to be finished through said moving annular abrasive zone in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said drum.

7. Apparatus for surface finishing articles comprising a cylindrical container having a horizontally disposed longitudinal axis and containing loose abrasive material, means for rotating said container on its longitudinal axis to form said material into a moving annular abrasive zone, an elongated continuous chain work carrier projecting into said container to transport the articles to be finished through said annular abrasive zone in a substantially straight line and means for driving said continuous chain work carrier.

8. Surface finishing apparatus comprising a cylindrical drum having a horizontally disposed longitudinal axis, said drum being open at one end thereof and containing loose abrasive material, means for rotating said drum on its longitudinal axis to form said material into an annular abrasive zone and an elongated continuous chain work carrier extending into the open end of said drum for moving articles to be surface finished into the open end of said drum, through the annular abrasive zone in a sub stantially straight line and then out of the open end of aid drum.

9. A surface finishing machine comprising a base, a cylindrical drum containing loose abrasive material mounted onsaid base, said drum having its longitudinal axis horizontally disposed, means for rotating said drum on its longitudinal axis to form said material into an annular abrasive zone and a work carrier supported on said base and extending into said drum, said work carrier being adapted to transport articles to be surface finished within said annular abrasive zone in a substantially straight line and having means to impart rotary motion to said articles on axes angularly disposed. to the longitudinal axis of said drum while said articles are within said annular abrasive zone.

10. A surface finishing machine comprising a base, a cylindrical drum containing loose abrasive material mounted on said base, said drum having its longitudinal axis horizontally disposed, means for rotating said drum on its longitudinal axis to form said material into an annular abrasive zone, an elongated continuous workconveyor mounted on said base and extending into said drum to transport the work pieces to be finished into and then out of said annular abrasive zone in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said drum, means on said conveyor to rotate the articles about axes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drum while said articles are in said annular abrasive zone, and driving means for said conveyor.

11. A surface finishing apparatus comprising a cylindrical container for loose abrasive material having a horizontal disposed longitudinal axis, means for rotating said container on its longitudinal axis to form said material into an annular abrasive zone by centrifugal force and an elongated conveyor extending into said drum to transport the articles to be surface finished through said annular abrasive zone in a substantially straight line, said conveyor including a driving sprocket positioned outside said drum, a driven sprocket positioned inside said drum, an endless chain extending between and supported by said sprockets and means on said chain for holding and rotating the articles to be surface finished.

12. A surface finishing apparatus comprising a base, a cylindrical container for abrasive material having a horizontally disposed longitudinal axis, said container having a closed end mounted to said base and an open end provided with a labyrinthine seal to prevent the escape of said abrasive material, means for rotating said container on its longitudinal axis to form said material into an annular abrasive zone around the inner circumference of said container, an elongated continuous chain work carrier having a portion for loading and unloading positioned outside said drum and another portion extending through said seal into said drum to transport the articles to be surface finished substantially longitudinally through the annular abrasive zone and means on said carrier for rotating the articles as they are moved through said abrasive zone.

13. A surface finishing apparatus comprising a base, a cylindrical container for abrasive material having a horizontally disposed longitudinal axis, said container having a closed end mounted to said base and an open end provided with a labyrinthine seal to prevent the escape of said abrasive material, means for rotating said container on its longitudinal axis to form said material into an annular abrasive zone around the inner circumference of said container, an elongated continuous chain work carrier mounted on said base and having a portion for loading and unloading positioned outside said drum and another portion extending through said seal into said drum to transport the articles to be surface finished substantially longitudinally through the annular abrasive zone, means on said carrier for rotating the articles as they are moved through said abrasive zone and means on said carrier to prevent rotation of said articles while they are outside said drum during loading and unloading.

14. A process for surface finishing an article including the step of transporting said article through a rotating annular mass of finely divided abrasive material along a substantially straight line angularly disposed to the movement of said mass.

15. A process for surface finishing an article including the step of transporting said article through a rotating annular mass of finely divided abrasive material along a path substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said annular mass and simultaneously rotating said article on an axis angularly disposed to the axis of rotation of said rotating mass.

16. A process for surface finishing an article including the step of transporting said article through a rotating annular mass of finely divided abrasive material along a path substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said annular mass and simultaneously rotating said article on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said rotating mass.

17. Apparatus for polishing articles comprising a base, a drum having its longitudinal axis horizontally disposed, said drum containing loose abrasive material and being rotatable on its longitudinal axis thereby being adapted to establish an annular zone of abrasive material by centrifugal force, said drum being supported on said base as a cantilever beam, and an article conveyor including a supporting frame supported by said base as a second cantilever beam, and a continuous chain held by said frame, said conveyor extending horizontally into said drum and adapted to transport articles through said Zone of abrasive material along a substantially straight line, and means on said conveyor to rotate the articles While they are being transported through said zone.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 474,024 Meigs et al May 3, 1892 981,417 Halsey et a1 Jan. 10, 1911 1,178,827 Spellman Apr. 11, 1916 1,585,392 Lathrop May 18, 1926 1,660,811 Perkins Feb. 28, 1928 1,835,219 Hopkins Dec. 8, 1931 2,218,353 Gruenberg Oct. 15, 1940 2,291,153 Escobar July 28, 1942 2,387,138 Fruth Oct. 16, 1945 2,494,733 Whitehead Jan. 17, 1950 2,589,782 Creek Mar. 18, 1952 2,626,487 Janusauskas J an. 27, 1953 2,635,394 Wing Apr. 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 119,823 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1918 254,728 Germany Dec. 12, 1912 

